Three Columbia businesses robbed in four-hour period

COLUMBIA — Three Columbia businesses were robbed within four hours Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

At 10:24 p.m., two men entered the Sonic drive-in restaurant at 2210 Paris Road and displayed guns, according to a Columbia Police Department news release. They took an undisclosed amount of money and ran out the back door. Both were described as 6 feet tall and skinny, and both were wearing dark clothes and a mask. Nobody was injured during the robbery.

Range Line Liquor, 907 Rain Forest Parkway, was robbed next by one man with a gun at 1:17 a.m. Thursday, according to the release. He also ran out the back door with an undisclosed amount of money. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and skinny, and he was wearing dark clothing and had a bandana on his face. No one was injured.

The last place, Petro Mart convenience store, 5612 St. Charles Road, was robbed at 3:15 a.m. by one man, according to the release. After pointing a gun at the clerk and demanding money, he ran out of the store and went south with an undisclosed amount of money. He was also described as being skinny and about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was last seen wearing dark clothing and a mask. Nobody was injured.

No arrests have been made in connection with the robberies, and the Columbia Police Department asks anyone with information to contact the police or Crime Stoppers at 875-TIPS.